In recent years WR has taken on a number of special monitoring projects, often collaborating with other organizations or projects. In the future we hope these types of projects will continue, as the need for data is invaluable to long term efforts to improve water quality and habitat as well as assuring the enforcement of environmental laws. Below are just a few of the projects complete by WR staff.
Habitat Monitoring
As part of any restoration project, it is critical to understand the conditions of a site before, during, and after project implementation. WR is embarking on a comprehensive project to monitor its habitat restoration projects, and potentially others from Eugene to Portland on the mainstem Willamette. See the Habitat section for more information on our restoration work.
Issue response monitoring
On occasion, WR staff has followed up on River Guardian issue reports by collecting data to better understand the issue at hand. In 2007 WR staff and volunteers helped to collect and process bacteria samples in a small creek that was unprotected from livestock use. This data, as well as observational information was used to trigger a response from the responsible regulatory agency, in this case the Oregon Department of Agriculture, to follow up with enforcements actions that would uphold state water quality standards.
Lower Columbia River Study
In 2006 WR staff partnered with the Native Fish Society to assess temperature and heavy metal analysis in examining cold water refugia in relation to salmonid in the Lower Columbia tributaries, including the Willamette. In the study 15 tributaries with little or insufficient temperature data were monitored with temperature dataloggers through the summer of 2006. Metals such as arsenic, copper and mercury were also assessed at these sites both in the water column and in the sediments. Study details and findings can be downloaded in the project report.
Freshwater Mussels
In 2007 WR collected baseline data on current fresh water mussel populations within the Willamette Watershed, particularly the Western Pearlshell, Margaritifera falcata. This work was made possible by the Salmon Habitat Fund, a grant opportunity provided by PGE and Pacific Power customers and administered by The Nature Conservancy. This data can be used to evaluate the status of freshwater mussels in the Pacific Northwest and as indicators of salmonid health. Using GIS and stream-reach surveys, this study identified a dense bed on the Willamette River, the Luckiamute River and South Scappoose Creek. All of which are the first substantial Margaritifera falcata data collected in the Willamette watershed.
